Top 10 Brightening Eye Creams to Banish Dark Circles – Skin Expert Approved
As a skincare expert, I’ve tried and tested hundreds of eye creams to help find products that make a difference. In this blog, I’m rounding up the best eye creams for dark circles, each one selected for its targeted ingredients and proven results.
In this blog, we’ll cover;
Why are dark circles so difficult to get rid of
Whether eye creams can help reduce dark circles
How to identify what’s causing your dark circles
The most effective ingredients to look for (think caffeine, vitamin C, peptides, and more)
Simple skincare routine tweaks that can also help depuff, brighten, and firm the under-eye area
If you’re looking to invest in the right product for your under-eyes, whether you're dealing with blue-toned shadows, brown pigmentation, or loss of volume, this guide will help you find the formula that works best for you.
Understanding Dark Circles: Why They're So Hard to Treat
Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most common and stubborn skincare concerns. There are three key contributors to under-eye darkness: dilated blood vessels, pigmentation, and loss of collagen. When blood vessels sit closer to the surface, they can cast a bluish or purplish shadow beneath the eyes. Over time, as collagen levels decline, the skin becomes thinner and more translucent, leading to a hollowed, shadowy appearance that makes dark circles and blood vessels more noticeable.
To make matters worse, free radical damage and daily exposure to sunlight and pollution can break down both collagen and weaken the blood vessel walls, further weakening the skin’s structure. That’s why it’s essential to apply sunscreen around the eye area, it’s one of the most effective steps in preventing and minimising dark circles over time.
Can eye creams help reduce dark circles?
While many good eye creams are formulated well with excellent ingredients, and will help diminish the appearance of dark circles, one of the biggest influencing factors is hereditary dark circles. If your dark circles are hereditary, unfortunately, the goal becomes about reducing their visible appearance, rather than eliminating them, as you are fighting against genetics. If you have dark circles that appear due to loss of collagen and volume, this is the second hardest type of dark circle to treat.
To effectively treat dark circles, it’s crucial to target oxidative stress, inflammation and loss of collagen if you are under 20, it’s essential to protect the collagen under the eyes as well as the face and neck.
Skin Expert Tips to Treat Dark Circles: Tried, Tested and Trusted Advice
Like many skin conditions, small tweaks can make a positive difference. As a skin expert, these are my top 8 tips to help you tackle dark circles effectively:
1. Understand the Cause
Identifying why your dark circles are appearing is the first step to treating them effectively.
If they’ve crept in alongside fine lines and wrinkles, collagen loss and damage from environmental aggressors (like UV or pollution) could be the cause.
Brown-toned under-eye circles are likely to be hereditary hyperpigmentation or due to sun exposure.
Blue or purplish undertones are usually caused by fragile blood vessels and poor circulation, often made worse by free radical damage.
2. Targeted Ingredients Matter
Once you’ve identified the cause, make sure your eye care includes ingredients that work:
Caffeine – De-puffs, constricts blood vessels, reduces puffiness, and energises tired skin.
Vitamin C – Brightens, protects collagen, and the skin cells from oxidative stress.
Niacinamide – Fades discolouration and strengthens the skin barrier.
Peptides – Boost collagen and firmness to help with loss of firmness and sagging.
Retinoids – Used carefully at low concentrations, these improve texture, fine lines, and collagen production (choose formulas safe for the delicate eye area)
3. Use a Cold Tool (Not Ice)
A cold jade roller or chilled spoon can reduce puffiness and stimulate circulation. Avoid ice cubes directly on the skin, as the extreme cold can damage the skin barrier, especially on delicate or sensitised skin.
4. Sleep Smart
Prop your head up at night. Elevating your pillow can help prevent fluid pooling around the eyes, reducing puffiness and shadowing by morning.
5. Daily SPF Around the Eyes
UV exposure breaks down collagen, weakens blood vessel walls and worsens dark circles. Use a broad-spectrum SPF around the eyes every single day to protect and support long-term improvement.
6. Apply Products Gently
Always use your ring finger to gently apply your eye care, never rub or drag the skin when applying eye creams or serums. The eye area is delicate, and applying too much friction and manipulation can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibres. Gentle application helps protect the skin’s structure and prevents premature sagging or creping.
7. Be Kind When Removing Eye Makeup
Rubbing and being overzealous, especially when cleansing the eyes, can damage the skin’s structure and lead to damage to the collagen and darkening under the eyes. Soak cotton pads with eye makeup remover and press gently on the lashes and eyelids to help break down the makeup before wiping.
8. Layer and Apply Your Eye Products Thoughtfully
Layering is key:
In the morning, apply a caffeine-based eye cream or serum to energise and de-puff the under-eye area.
If the skin around the eye area is parched and thirsty, layer a caffeine-rich serum under your eye cream.
At night, include a peptide or retinoid-rich cream to support long-term collagen health.
Pro tip: Eye creams targeting dark circles are most effective when used in the morning, as this is when the under-eye area is naturally puffier and more sluggish, making it the ideal time to take advantage of energising ingredients like caffeine. For even better results, pair your morning brightening eye cream with a retinoid eye treatment at night. Retinoids work to stimulate collagen production, strengthen the delicate skin, and support overall skin renewal, helping to reduce the depth of shadows and improve resilience over time.
For the best retinoid eye cream and reviews, click here
Below I’ve listed some of my favourite skin expert-approved, tried-and-tested best under-eye creams for dark circles.
Best £10 and under Eye Creams
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
This is one of the most popular eye serums for good reason. Caffeine is a hero ingredient when it comes to targeting puffiness and dark circles. It works by helping to constrict blood vessels and decongest fluid, leaving the under-eye area looking more refreshed and awake.
What sets this formula apart is the addition of EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside), a potent antioxidant derived from green tea. EGCG helps reduce inflammation, which is one of the leading causes of dark circles. When the delicate skin under the eyes is exposed to stress, pollution, or lack of sleep, inflammation can disrupt circulation and trigger oxidative stress, making dark shadows and purplish tones more visible.
While this is a brilliant option for puffiness and pigmentation, it’s worth noting that the texture is lightweight and not overly hydrating, so if your eye area is feeling dry or dehydrated, you may want to layer it under a richer eye cream.
Pro tip: Use morning and evening by gently tapping under the eyes, and always follow with hydrating cream if needed.
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
The Inkey List and The Ordinary are often compared, especially when it comes to their caffeine-based eye treatments, and one of the most common questions I get is: which one is better?
If you have dry or dehydrated under-eyes along with dark circles, The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream is likely the better choice. It includes squalane and hyaluronic acid, which add hydration and help soften and smooth the delicate eye area, something The Ordinary’s formula lacks.
However, if dark circles are your main concern and your skin isn’t particularly dry, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG may offer more targeted results, thanks to its higher concentration of caffeine and the addition of EGCG, a powerful antioxidant.
Pro tip: You don’t have to choose. These two products layer beautifully. Apply The Ordinary’s serum first for its de-puffing and dark circle-reducing effects, then follow with The Inkey List’s cream to hydrate, brighten, and lock in moisture.
BUY HERE
Sali Hughes Ringlight Creamy Illuminating Eye Balm
This is one of those clever multitasking products that instantly wakes up the eye area. Beautifully hydrating, it’s infused with soft-focus light-diffusing pigments that deliver radiance without a hint of shimmer, just a natural, lit-from-within glow.
The subtle gold illuminators brighten the under-eye area effortlessly, while the lightweight balm texture melts in thanks to hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts, delivering hydration that lasts. It’s ideal if you’re not necessarily looking to treat dark circles but want to visibly lift and illuminate the eye area in seconds. It blends beautifully with concealer, making it perfect for touch-ups throughout the day when your under-eyes need a quick refresh.
Best £30 and under
Origins Ginzing™ Brightening Eye Cream with Caffeine and Ginseng
If you’re looking for a quick fix for tired, puffy eyes, Origins GinZing™ Brightening Eye Cream has earned its cult-favourite status for good reason. Designed to instantly refresh and illuminate the under-eye area, this energising eye cream delivers a visible boost in brightness and hydration, ideal for early mornings and late nights.
At the core of the formula is a powerhouse duo: Caffeine (from coffee beans) and Panax Ginseng, known for their energising and circulation-boosting benefits. These are paired with Vitamin C and Niacinamide, which work to brighten, hydrate, and visibly reduce puffiness, leaving the eyes looking more awake and refreshed.
Its light-reflecting pigments create a soft, pearlescent glow that enhances the under-eye area, and the lightweight gel-cream texture absorbs quickly and is particularly well-suited for oily or combination skin types, or anyone who prefers a non-heavy formula around the eyes.
While it may not dramatically reduce deeper, pigment-based dark circles long term, it's a brilliant option for instant brightening and depuffing, delivering that wide-awake look when you need it most.
Erborian CC Radiance, Eye Contour Cream Smoothes and Corrects SPF20
While it doesn’t treat dark circles in the long term, this is a fantastic everyday option for minimising their appearance and preventing further damage while you conceal and protect.
Formulated specifically for the delicate under-eye area, this lightweight cream adapts to your skin tone with colour-correcting pigments that subtly even out shadows and discolouration. The coverage is natural but effective, perfect for those no-makeup days or even under your concealer for extra brightening and protection.
What I love the most about this is the inclusion of SPF 20, a rarity in under-eye concealers. Because sun exposure accelerates pigmentation and collagen loss (two major contributors to dark circles), daily UV protection is essential, and Erborian makes it effortless.
The formula is infused with Centella Asiatica, known for its soothing and skin-repairing benefits, so it’s also gentle on sensitive or easily irritated eyes.
Erborian CC Eye is one of those clever multitaskers that belong in every morning routine. It may not be a treatment, but it’s prevention, correction, and protection wrapped into one brightening, smoothing step — ideal for those looking to fake 8 hours of sleep and care for their under-eyes long-term.
There are two shades I wear Clair and Dore is the next shade up
Best £40 and under
Dr Sam’s Flawless Brightly Eye Serum
This eye serum is a standout all-rounder that works hard to hydrate, smooth, and protect the delicate under-eye area. It delivers instant luminosity and visible brightness, helping to diffuse dark circles and soften shadows from the very first application.
Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark circles and improve firmness over time, this formula offers both immediate and long-term benefits. It reminds me of the glow-boosting magic of Sali Hughes Ringlight, but with added skin-health credentials.
A smart choice if you're looking for a brightening eye treatment that also strengthens and supports, not just conceals.
For the full review and ingredient breakdown, click here.
Use code FIONA10 for 10% off
Best £50 and under
Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream
This potent yet gentle eye cream has been expertly formulated to tackle the complex causes of under-eye discolouration from pigmentation and dullness to thinning skin and loss of firmness. C5 Super Boost Eye Cream includes a blend of multiple forms of stabilised vitamin C, designed to work synergistically while remaining gentle enough for the delicate eye area.
The trio of vitamin C derivatives works across multiple layers of the skin. 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid at 2% is a highly stable and effective form of vitamin C that brightens and supports collagen production. Ascorbyl Glucoside, also at 2%, is known for its gentleness and its ability to help fade hyperpigmentation. Lastly, Ascorbyl Palmitate at 1% is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C that penetrates deeply to defend against oxidative stress.
Together, these ingredients help improve overall luminosity, reduce dark circles, and protect the delicate under-eye area from environmental damage. The formula also includes targeted peptides that help reinforce skin structure, increase elasticity, and minimise the appearance of fine lines and puffiness over time.
The texture is lightweight and fast-absorbing, yet still leaves the skin feeling cushioned and well-hydrated. It layers beautifully under makeup or can be used as part of a calming nighttime routine. This eye cream is ideal for anyone dealing with persistent dark circles combined with signs of ageing, such as fine lines or loss of firmness, or dull, tired-looking under eyes.
Best £60 and under
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Cream
A true cult favourite, Sunday Riley’s Auto Correct lives up to its name with a formula that visibly brightens, depuffs, and smooths the under-eye area, instantly and over time.
From the very first application, you’ll notice a boost in radiance thanks to soft-focus, light-reflecting particles that give tired eyes a luminous, refreshed look. It acts like a real-life filter, making it ideal under makeup or even worn alone on no-makeup days. One of my favourite tips? Mix a small amount with your concealer for a seamless, luminous finish that never creases.
The formula is powered by caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract to visibly reduce puffiness and energise the skin, while lutein, a plant-based antioxidant, works to enhance brightness. Horse chestnut extract helps improve the look of dark circles over time, making this more than just a quick fix.
The texture is silky, featherlight, and absorbs beautifully, perfect for morning use when you want to look like you’ve had a full eight hours of sleep (even if you haven’t).
Best £70 and under
Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
If you're looking for a brightening eye treatment that tackles dark circles head-on, Murad’s Vita-C Eyes is one of the best, most targeted solutions available. Formulated specifically to address uneven tone, discolouration, and fatigue under the eyes, this serum-like corrector delivers both instant and long-term results.
With the inclusion of stabilised vitamin C, this powerhouse antioxidant helps reduce the appearance of darkness under the eyes, improves radiance, and protects against free radical damage, all key to fading dark circles caused by sun exposure or oxidative stress.
Alongside vitamin C, the formula features light-reflecting micro-minerals that instantly brighten the under-eye area, giving a soft-focus glow and diffusing shadows, making it a great option under makeup or as a quick morning pick-me-up. If your dark circles are more pigmentation-based than vascular and collagen loss, this could be a standout addition to your eye care routine.
Best £80 and under
Elemis Pro‑Collagen Vitality Eye Cream
This eye cream is a true standout. I loved this eye cream; it’s expertly formulated to brighten, firm, and deeply hydrate the delicate under-eye area. With regular use, it visibly reduces puffiness and dark circles, leaving the eyes looking fresher, smoother, and more awake.
The texture is beautiful, rich enough to nourish but lightweight enough to layer effortlessly under makeup or wear both morning and night. Immediately upon application, the skin feels smoother and more hydrated thanks to humectants like glycerin and shea butter.
A radiance-boosting blend of hawthorn, Arabian jasmine, elderflower, and Japanese artemisia helps diminish the appearance of dark circles and brings instant luminosity to tired eyes. This cream is particularly effective at softening the look of fine lines and reducing signs of fatigue, all while delivering a healthy, hydrated glow.
Over time, the formula works to improve firmness and elasticity, powered by the brand's famous Padina Pavonica, a moisture-rich brown algae known for supporting collagen and promoting skin resilience.
Thank You For Reading
I hope you found these recommendations helpful. If you choose to shop using the links I’ve shared, thank you—it genuinely makes a difference. As a small, independent business, your support helps brands discover my work and allows me to keep creating honest, helpful content and running this website.
Happy shopping, and thank you again for being here!
Fiona x
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